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In ambilineal lineage, descent is traced through either the maternal and/or the [ paternal lines, usually meaning that the individuals choose whether to affiliate with their mother or their father's group, or both. Ambilineal lineage can be Kinship">bilineal or Bilateral descent">bilateral.
In
In matrilineage, descent is traced exclusively through the maternal line. Children inherit lineage membership from their mother, and the lineage consists of a mother, her children, and her children's children who are all matrilineally related. The
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anthropology
Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, society, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including archaic humans. Social anthropology studies patterns of behav ...
, a lineage is a unilineal descent group that traces its ancestry
An ancestor, also known as a forefather, fore-elder, or a forebear, is a parent or ( recursively) the parent of an antecedent (i.e., a grandparent, great-grandparent, great-great-grandparent and so forth). ''Ancestor'' is "any person from ...
to a demonstrably shared ancestor, known as the apical ancestor. Lineages are formed through relationships traced either exclusively through the maternal line ( matrilineage), paternal line ( patrilineage), or some combination of both ( ambilineal). The cultural significance of matrilineal or patrilineal descent varies greatly, shaping social structures, inheritance patterns, and even rituals across societies
A society () is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. ...
.
Etymology
FromMiddle English
Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman Conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English pe ...
''linage'', from Old French
Old French (, , ; ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France approximately between the late 8th -4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ...
''linage'', from ''ligne'', from Latin ''linea'' (“line”); equivalent to ''line'' + ''-age''.
Characteristics
A lineage is adescent group characterized by unilineal descent. This means that lineage membership is determined by tracing ancestry
An ancestor, also known as a forefather, fore-elder, or a forebear, is a parent or ( recursively) the parent of an antecedent (i.e., a grandparent, great-grandparent, great-great-grandparent and so forth). ''Ancestor'' is "any person from ...
through either a single line ( unilineal), either Matrilineality">maternal or Patrilineality">paternal, or through a combination of both lines ( ambilineal). This differentiates lineages from other descent groups like Clan">clans, which may have a shared ancestor but lack the demonstrably documented or traditionally accepted apical ancestor from whom all members descend. There are three forms of lineage, matrilineage, patrilineage, and ambilineal.
In matrilineage, descent is traced exclusively through the maternal line. Children inherit lineage membership from their mother, and the lineage consists of a mother, her children, and her children's children who are all matrilineally related. The Matrilineality">matrilineally related. The Minangkabau people of Indonesia">Minangkabau_people.html" ;"title="Matrilineality">matrilineally related. The Matrilineality">matrilineally related. The Minangkabau people of Indonesia, being a Jews">Jew
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...
in the Jewish religion, and the Judaism">Jewish religion, and the Khasi people of India">Khasi_people.html" ;"title="Judaism">Jewish religion, and the Khasi people">Judaism">Jewish religion, and the Khasi people of India are well-known examples of societies with prominent matrilineal structures.
In patrilineage, descent is traced exclusively through the paternal line. Children inherit lineage membership from their father, and the lineage consists of a father, his children, and his children's children who are all patrilineally related. Patrilineages are more common globally, with examples found in many cultures, such as much of Southeast Asia">South East Asia
Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...
In ambilineal lineage, descent is traced through either the maternal and/or the [ paternal lines, usually meaning that the individuals choose whether to affiliate with their mother or their father's group, or both. Ambilineal lineage can be Kinship">bilineal or Bilateral descent">bilateral. Ambilineal lineages are relatively rare in more under-developed societies, such as Southeast Asia">South East Asia
Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...
, and very common in modernized societies, such as the United States and Western Europe.
In Kinship, Bilineal lineage (also known as double descent), children are part of both their Social group, mother and their father's groups. This results in many more people in a lineage. Examples of bilineal lineage include the Yako people of Nigeria
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
.
Lineages play a large role in social organization
In sociology, a social organization is a pattern of relationships between and among individuals and groups. Characteristics of social organization can include qualities such as sexual composition, spatiotemporal cohesion, leadership, struc ...
across cultures
Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...
. They influence inheritance
Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Offi ...
patterns, with property
Property is a system of rights that gives people legal control of valuable things, and also refers to the valuable things themselves. Depending on the nature of the property, an owner of property may have the right to consume, alter, share, re ...
and titles often passed down within the lineage. In addition, lineages often have religious significance, with one's ancestorial history often determining one's religion
Religion is a range of social system, social-cultural systems, including designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics in religion, ethics, or ...
and position in that religion. The structure of lineages also leads to stability, social obligations, and reciprocity among members, providing support networks and a sense of shared identity.
See also
* *Kinship terminology
Kinship terminology is the system used in languages to refer to the persons to whom an individual is related through kinship. Different societies classify kinship relations differently and therefore use different systems of kinship terminology; ...
References
Further reading
*External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lineage (anthropology Kinship and descent